Mechanical stoker



1,647,126 No 1 1927 A. B. FAHNEs-rocx KECHANICAL STOKER Filed Sept. 21, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 WITNESSE NOV 1, l

A. B. FAHNr-:soc

uucmmcu.- -s'roxan v Filed sept. 21, 192s 4 sheets-sheet 2 mas w ITN ESSES ENTOR www l f Nov. 1, 1927. 1,647,126

A. B. FAHNx-:sTocK uEcHANIcAL sToxnR Filed Sept. 21, 1923 4 SheetsSheet 3 A 1. l l 'f7' N0 l 1927' A. B. FAHNEsTocK MECHANICAL sroxzn Filed sept. 21, 192s FIG.7

ww 12 1@ 8* f4 i 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 v WITNESS:

Patented Nov. 1, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ADAM B. FAHNESTOCK, QF MANHASSET, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY IESNE .ASSIGN-- MENTS, TO LOCOMOTIVE STOKEB COMPANY, 0F. PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A

CORPORATION 0l' PENNSYLVANIA.

mannaro@ sroxas. Appunti ma sept-.emersa 192s. serial m. sensa.

My invention relates to appliances for mechanically, conveyingfuel from a supply receptacle to the firing opening of a locomotive or other steam boiler'furnace, and is an.

Elvin and myself, under date of June 21,

The object of vmy present invention is to provide im roved means for feeding fuel,

at a desire rate, to a crushing mechanism, reducing it to proper size forjrin and delivering'it, in such condition, to `e device by which it is projected into the boiler furnace. A further obect of my invention is to so dispose the mec anism as to require a minimum of space for its installation, to ensure safety to the o erator, and to render it-immediatel accessi le for the removal of aniy obstructions that, through either acci ent or design, may have been caused to enter it.

The im rovement claimed is hereinafter fully set orth.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal central section through the ad'oining portions of a coupled locomotive an tender, illustrating an application of m invention; Fig. 2, a front view, in elevation, of an appliance embod ing-my invention; Fier 3, a right hand si e view, in elevation, ofythe same; Fi 3,.a; vertical longitudinal section through t e rear portion of the conveyor casing and adjacent members; Fig. 4, a plan or top view; Fig. 5, a vertical transverse section through the feeder trough, on the line 5, 5 of Fig. 3; Fig. 6, a vertical longitudinal section, through the same on the line 6, 6 of Fig. i; Fig. 7, a anni 18a hand side View; Fig. 8, a vertica section, on ancenlarged scale', through .the stationary crusher member, on the hne 8, 8 of Fig. 4; and, Fig. 9, a similar section, through the movable crusher member, on the same line.

In the practice of my invention, referringdescriptively to the specific embodiment thereof which is herein exemplified, it is applied in connection with a tender,'indicated, t

as a whole, by A, and having a coal bin or receptacle, a, and with a locomotive, in-

dicated, as a' whole', by\\B, to which the tender is coupled, in the`-ordinary manner, by draw bars, C. The firebox, b, of the boiler of the locomotive, is supplied with fuel from the coal bin of the tender, by a feeding and crushing mechanism the construction and manner of operation oflwhich, so far as is necessary follows: l Y

Fuel is'transferred from the coal bin, a,

of the tender, to a conveyor leading to the f stoking appliance on, the ocomotive, by one or more endless drag chains runmng on to explain my invention, are as 'V s rocket wheels 4, 4, the upper run of the c ain extending from the rear to the forward end vof the bottom of the bin. This mechanism delivers the fuel to an o ening in the bottom of the bin, through w ich it passes to the Stoker conveyor. As herein'- after described, there is, in the disclosed embodiment of the invention, a fuel crusher located in the delivery opening'of the bin.

The dra chain mechanism is preferably housed wit in a casing 1 below the bin, and

crossing this chamber, or located directly .run of each chain, is a late 1 whic uiports the fuel which is ing directly acte upon by the chain. The

sprocket Wheels,l 4f,v at the forward end of t e system of chains, are fixed on, and rotate with, a shaft, 40, journalled in the frame 1,

and the sprocket wheels, 4, at the rear end,

are fitted to rotate freely, and independently, on a fixed shaft, 41. The chains, 2, are maintained trul in line, intheir traverse through the fee er trough, by guide bars, 3,

which are approximately e ual in depth to the links of the'chains, an Aare interposed between them, as well as located on each side of the set of chains. These bars also serve to support in part, the mass of fuel, ermitting the c ains'to move more freely. ile they are not ofthe essence of the invention in its broader as ects, they add materially to its eilicienc he links of the chains are, at intervals in the length thereof, provided with u wardly rejecting dogs,

2, which bear against the uel that is debelow the upper s -posited on the chains and promote its forward movement by them.

Intermittent movement, of variable extent, is imparted to the chains, 2, their upper lengths u. traversing forwardly, i. e., towards Y the locomotive, by a motor, 5, located on the locomotive, and rotating a rearwardly exordinarily. four in number,

.A curved arm, the periphery of the ratchet casing.

in the frame, 1, parallel with the shaft,'9,

and havin an eccentric, 13, secured on one of its en s.- A vibratable ratchet casing, 14, on whichfa plurality of Spring pawls, 14, are pivoted, is journalled inthe supporting frame, l, of 40,' on which the sprocket wheels, 4, of the l forward ends Aof the drag chains, 2, are fixed. 14" projects forwardly from Two parallel swing links, 15, are pivoted "to the ratchet casing, said links having a roller, 16, which bears on the eccentric, v13,

. journalled in their lower ends. The links are of such angular relation to the shafts, 40 j and 9, that the roller, 16, will be maintained in contact with the eccentric,.by lits gravity and that of the links, and vthe latter are maintained in proper position, relatively to said shafts, by a link, 15, by which the are cou led to the frame. A ratchet whee 17, :is ed on the shaft, 40, and the pawls, 14, are, in number and disposition, such that one or another of them is, at all times, in engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel. The rotation of the eccentric, 13, as transmitted to the shaft, 40, through the rol'ler, 16, links, 15, ratchet casing, 14, and ratchet Wheel,l 17, im arts intermittent rotatory movement to t e shaft, 40, which, through the sprocket wheels, 4, effects a corresponding intermittent forward traverse of the upper lengths of the drag chains, 2, by which the' coal ismoved from the-coal bin of the tender to the conveyor which deliversit to the stoking appliance on the locomotive.v

In order tol vary the quantity of fuel delivered by the drag chains, as from time to time desired, the extent of the intermittent forward movements of their upper lengths is correspondingly varied by a reo'ulating mechanism o f substantially the followin construction. A. stop bar, 18, is fitted to sli e in a guide, 18, which is secured to the frame, 1, adjacent to, and in the vertical ,plane of, the ratchet casing, 14. The sto l a1' is connected, by a link, 19, to a cran arm, 20, on the lower end of a manually operable regulating shaft, 20,which is journalled on the frame, and carries, on its uplper end, a handle, 20h, and latch, 20, the latter being adapted to engage the teeth of through the connections above described, to-

ratchet casing, 14.

When the stop1 its traverse to t bar is moved to the limit of I e left, it will stand entirely l clear of the curved arm, 14", and will notx interfere with its free movement and that of the ratchet casino", to which it is connected. When moved to t e right, it limits the movement of the ratchet casing to the clearance between its right hand end and the curved arm, whichl may be substantially zero at the limit of its right hand traverse, as indicated \in Fig. 7. It will be seen that by variation of the position of the stop bar, relatively to the curved arm, a greater or less vdegree of traverse may be. imparted to said arm and the connected ratchet casing, and through them to the forward sprockets, 4, and shaft, 1,40,L varying from the full travel imparted by the eccentric, 13, to zero. l In the operation of stoker red locomotives, it is frequently necessaryV to supply them with run of mine coal, which contains i lumps that are toolarge for proper combustion in the iirebox, and it is manifestly desirable that they should be capable of using vcoal o f such character, when desired. To this end, a coal crushing mechanism, of substantially the following construction, is preferably provided.

l A stationary crusher member, indicated, as a whole, as 21, is secured to the frame, 1, below and sli htly in advance of the forward ends of the `drag chains, 2, and of the coal gates, a', of the tender. crusher member is a substantial casting, comprising a (plurality of vertical ribs, 21, facmg towar sa movable crusher member, and connected by upper transverse ribs, 21", and lower transverse ribs, 21. The shaft, 40, which carries the sprocket Wheels at the forward extremities of the drag chains, passes through openings, 2 1, in the side walls and ribs of the stationary crusher member, and the chains pass through slots, 2l", of approximate'ly the same width as the chains, in the top of the stationary crusher member. -The openings at the front of the stationary member, at the rear of the upper transverse ribs, 21", and between the vertical ribs, 21, permit such particles of coal as are so small as not to require crushing, to drop into the conveyor casln 24, without being crushed. The delivery olfJ the coal to the conveyor casing, 24a, is promoted by inclined deflecting plates, 21'.

A movable crusher member, 22, of sectoral kform is fixed on a shaft, 23, which is journalled in the supporting frame, 1', adjacent to its front end, said member having a plurality of sets of teeth, 22", which project rearwardly from its curved body, the sets being disposed in parallel vertical planes,

5 4a. quadrant, 20d. The stop bar is movable, and the outer ends of the teeth in curves ec- The stationary v centric to the axial line of the shaft, 23.

Cil

Rocking movement, about jsaid axial line, 1s imparted to the movable crusher member by a connecting rod, 25, coupled, at'one end, to a crank arm, 12, on the eccentrlc shaft, 12, and, at the other, to a crank arm, 23, on the shaft, 23. n

The shaft, 41, on which the s rocket wheels, 4, at the rear extremities of t e drag chains, are mounted, is adjustable, 1n the direction of the length of the appsllance, by being fitted in slack adjuster bloc 26 supported in casings, 26", secured the feeder trough. Any abnormal slack 1n the drag chains, may be taken up by eubstltuting larger blocks, or inserting shims 1n the ca sings. The drag chains are maintalne'd 1n straight lon itu inal direction 1n the trough, by the gui e bars, 3, which ractically d1- vide the trough, longitudinal y, into a plurality of channels. lhe uide bars are aproximately equal in height to the cham links, and tend to prevent lateral movement of the chains that might be occasioned by lar e lumps of coal or other material. In ordger to prevent backward movement of the shaft, 40, which might result by reason of friction from the ratchetcasing, pivoted arms, 27, are caused to gri the shaft, by springs, 27, and act as a bra e to effectually prevent retrograde movement of the shaft.

'lhe screw conveyor, 24, by which the fuel, after assing the crushlng mechanism, 1s carried) to the shovels, 2.6, by which it is projected into the firebox, rotates in a casing,24, extending forwardly and upwardly, from a receiving hopper, 24", at its rear end, to the shovel box. Rotation is im arted to the screw conveyor from the sha t, 9, through a bevel pinion, 9b, on said shaft, which pinion meshes with a corresponding tgear, 27* on a shaft, 27, journalled 1n `rear o the conveyor casing, and carrying'a universal joint jaw, 27 b. A block, 27 journalled in the jaw, 27 b, is coupled, at a right angle to its Journals, to a jaw, 27d, on the forward end of which there is formed a square box, 27. A s uare block, 27', having rounded exterior sur aces, is secured upon a short shaft, 24, connected to the rear end of the shaft of the screw conveyor. p Y

The rear end of the conveyor casing, 24, and the connected receiving ho er, 24", are supported on two shoes, 28, Whic are closed together around a stationary center pin, 29, fitting in a s herical faced bearing in the shoes, 28, sai pin constituting a pivot for the entire 'bconveyor mechanism'and hopper. The center of the square block, 27', is located directly over the axis of the pin, 29, so that, when the front end of the conveyor casing is moved from side to side, in the passage of the locomotive around curves, etc., no movement is imparted to the center of the block. By reason of the fixed relation of the center of the block, and the center pin, 29, a universal joint is rovided, in which there 1s but a very sli ht ongitudinal movement of the which it is carried to the stoking mechanism.

on the locomotive, is effected by the forward movements of the upper lengths of the drag chains, the quantit of coal delivered, bein proportionate to t e variation of extent o then intermittent movements, which is made, as from time to time desired, by the o erator. The larger lumps of coal are crus ed in passin between the stationary and movable crus ing members, and to ether with the smaller articles, drop into t e receiving hopper of t 1e conveyor casing, and are carried by the screw conveyor, to the stoking appliance proper. Owing to the comparatlvely low rate of speed at which the drag chains `are ordinarily operated, the safety of the operator is not imperilled, and a cover being placed over the crushing mechanism here is no liability for him to be injured K I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent: 5

1. In a mechanical Stoker, the combination of a fuel receptacle, havin a delivery opening; a feed trough, locate below said o ening; an endless fuel feeding drag chain, a a tedto traverse in said trough, below sai opening; means for imparting intermittent movement of the up er length of said drag chain, away from t e opening of the fuel receptacle; and a conveyor, receiving fuel from the forward extremity of the drag chain and transferring it to a point 0f delivery. v Y

2. In a mechanical Stoker, the combination of a fuel receptacle, havin a delivery opening; a feed trough, locate below said openingi; an endless fuel feeding drag chain, adapte to traverse in said trough, below said opening; upstanding pusher dogs, connectcd, at intervals, to Alinks of the dra chain; means for imparting movement o the upper length of said chain, away from. y,1

the opening of the fuel receptacle; and a' conveyor, receiving fuel from theA forward?v livery.

` engaging said chains,

dra chain; means for impartin movement of gie upper lengths of the rag chains, away from the opening of the fuel receptacle; and a conveyor, receiving fuel from the forward extremity of the drag chain system and transferring it to a point ofydenearer t e wheels engaging the drag chains, at the extremity o their system further from the fuel receptacle; a rotatable shaft, on which said last specified sprocket wheels are fixed; means for imparting rotatory move-y ment to said shaft; and a conveyor, receiving fuel from the forward extremity of the drag chain system and transferring it to a point of delivery.`

5. In a mechanical stoker, the combination of a fuel receptacle, havin a delivery opening; a feed trough, locate below said openin a plurality of endless fuel feeding drag c alns, ada ted to Atraverse in said trough, below sai opening; sprocket wheels, at the extremity of their system nearer the fuel rece tacle; a shaft, on which said sprocket w eels are Imounted; slack adjuster blocks, in which said shaft is journalled; sprocket wheels,

, engaging the drag chains, at the extremity of their system further from the fuel receptacle; a rotatable shaft, on which said sprocket wheels are fixed; means for imparting rotatory movement to said shaft; and a conveyor, receiving fuel from the forward .extremity of the drag chain system and transferring it to a point of delivery.

6. In a mechanical Stoker, the combination of a fuel receptacle, havin opening; a feed trough, locate below said opening; a plurality of endless fuel feeding drag c ains, adapted to traverse in said trough, below said opening; sprocket'wheels, engaging said chains, at the extremity of their system nearer the fuel receptacle; a shaft, on which. said sprocket wheels are mounted; sprocket wheels, engaging the drag chains, at the extremity of their system, further from the fuel receptacle; a rotatable shaft, on which said last specified sprocket wheels are fixed; means for imparting intermittent rotatory movement to said shaft;

means for varying the turning movements of said shaft; and a conveyor, receiving fuel from the forward extremity of the drag chain system and transferring it to a point of delivery. v

7. In a mechanical stoken, the combinaa delivery tion of a fuel receptacle; having a delivery opening; a feed trough located below said opening; a plurality of endless fuel feedin drag chains, adapted to traverse in sai trough, below said opening; sprocket wheels, engaging said chains, at the extremity of their system nearer the fuel receptacle; a shaft, on which said sprocket wheels are mounted; sprocket Wheels, engaging the drag chains, at the extremity of their system further from the fuel receptacle a rotatable shaft, on which said last specided sprockets are fixed; a ratchet wheel, secured on said shaft; a ratchet casing, fitting freely on said shaft; sprin pawls, pivoted on said casing and adapte `to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel; means for rotating the ratchet casing; means for varying the degree of rotation of said casing; relativel to the shaft; and a conveyor, receiving nel the forward extremity of the drag chain system and transferring it to a point of delivery.

8. In a mechanical Stoker, the combination of an endless fuel feeding drag chain means for imparting movement to said chain; a conveyor casing, located in position to receive fuel supplied by the drag chain; a fixed support; shoes, secured to said conveyor, through which it bears on said supfrom port; a pivot pin on said support; fitting in spherically recessed bearings in the shoes; a shaft journalled in the casing and carrying the conveyor; a driving shaft, journalled on the fixed support; a connecting member, having a squared recess; a universal joint, coupling said member to the driving shaft; and a curved faced block, secured to the conveyor shaft, and fitting in the recess of the connecting member. v

9. In a mechanical Stoker, in combination, a fuel bin having a delivery opening, and a vtrough at its bottom leading to the opening,

an endless drag chain the upper run'thereof occupying the trough, a conveyor for receiving fuel from the opening and transferring it from the point of delivery to the furnace, and means for imparting intermittent movement to the chain in timed relation with the conveyor.

l0. In combination, a fuel bin having a delivery opening and a plurality of troughs at its bottom leading to the opening, endless drag chains the upper run of each occupying one of the troughs, a conve or for receiving fuel from the opening an transferring it to a point of delivery, and means for imparting an intermittent movement to the chains in timed relation with the conveyor.

ll. In a mechanical Stoker, in combination, a fuel bin, a conveyor receiving from the bin, `and a drag chain movable within the bin for advancing fuel to the place of discharge therefrom into the conveyor, and means or imparting to the chain an interlou mittent movement in timed relation with the movement of the conveyor.

12. In a mechanical stoker, in combination, a fuel bin, a conveyor receiving from the bin, and a plurality of drag chains movable Within the bin for advancing fuel to the place of discharge therefrom into the conveyor, and means for impartin to the chains an intermittent movement in'tlmed relation with the movement of the conveyor.

13. In a stoker for furnaces, in combination, means for delivering fuel to .the furnace, a fuel bin having an opening in its bottom, and means for transferring fuel from the bin to the delivering means comprising ay plurality of endless drag chains the upper turns of which cross the bin opening, means for advancingv the chains to transfer fuel from the bin to the delivery -means, and means for varying the movement of the chains independently of the action of the delivering means.

14. In a Stoker for furnaces, in combination, means for delivering fuel to the furnace, a fuel bin having an opening in its bottom, and means for transferring Iuel lfrom the bin to the delivering means comchains to transfer fuel from the bin to thel delivering means, and means for varying the movement of the chains independently of the action of the delivering means.

15. In a stoker for furnaces, in combination, means for delivering fuel to the furnace, a fuel bin having anopening in its bottom, and means for transferring fuel from the bin to the delivering means comprising a plurality of endless drag chains the upper turns of which cross the bin opening, means for advancing the chains with a step by step movement to transfer fuel from the bin to the delivering means, and means for varying the length of the steps independently ofthe action of the delivering means.

l ADAM B. FAHNESTOCK. 

